[TPIN] 2006/2007 Already - a report

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

While I have time to do some messaging here on TPIN, I thought I would give  
you all a report on my latest "doings."  I had the pleasure of performing  the 
National Anthem twice for Fiesta Bowl events.  First for the Fiesta  Bowl 
National Band Competition in the new Cardinal's Stadium.  Wow what a  place that 
is. I'm sure many of you saw that amazing game in the stadium.   There were 
about 10,000 in the audience for the band competition.  Some  marvelous high 
school bands, plus the Boise and Oklahoma university bands.   I have to say, that 
while I am not a marching fan, the bands that made the  evening finals played 
VERY musically and had some wonderful arrangements and  original compositions 
to perform.
On Saturday morning, I played again for the Fiesta Bowl Parade.  Just  an 
intimate audience of 400,000.
A great parade with 20 bands.  Some from the finals the night before  and 
some other ones too.  I got to sit in the judges stand, so I had a  great view of 
all the floats, bands, etc................
Played a wonderful New Year's Eve gig with my Septet at a beautiful  historic 
hotel in Prescott, AZ.  
Now on to 2007.
I had a very weird thing happen.  They found a polyp on my right vocal  cord. 
 For any of you that have seen me over the past few months, you might  
remember that my voice was really "scratchy" and hoarse.  In fact, a friend  said I 
sounded like a cross between Miles Davis and Bill Clinton.  Well,  luckily 
there was no cancer involved at all, but they said that my voice would  just keep 
getting worse, so I had to have an operation last Thursday. I  joked that I 
am not even a singer, but the realization that I have been talking  to hundreds 
of kids in clinics over the last 35 + years, was what the surgeon  said was 
probably the cause.  Guess I'll just have to start using a  mic in my clinics 
now.  My wife, Peggy, is loving it.  I can't talk at  all for a while. I also 
have to lay off my horn for at least a week  ---- DRAT!  All this free time, 
and I can't touch the horn.  I am  hoping to be able to play for a very close 
friend's funeral (discussion of a  short time ago) on January 13th.  He was on 
the board of directors of my  nonprofit Friends of Big Band Jazz and a great 
jazz and big band fan.
If any of you are coming to NAMM -- please come by the Getzen booth.   I'll 
be able to talk by then, just not too loud, I guess. 
I hope everyone has a great 2007 with lots of music and lots of  friends.
Mike Vax